The final assault began as planned at 8 p.m. While the coalition struck the front lines with relentless force explosions and gunfire tearing through the night—Mia and her group had slipped behind enemy lines aboard stealth helicopters. Their silent and invisible approach allowed them to glide through the darkness like shadows, out of reach of enemy radars and patrols. Their objective was simple but decisive: reach the place where the Von Kaiser family was hiding, concealed in a heavily guarded bunker. There, at the heart of the enemy stronghold, lay the key to ending this war. This was where everything had to end.
"Gleipnir Delta, your squadron unit is reaching the limit of radar range." announced a voice in Mia's headset, breaking the heavy silence on board.
"This is IMM, copy that, over." Mia replied calmly. "Alright, have all helicopters switch to hover mode."
The helicopters slowed down, floating in the air undetectably, while the teams prepared for infiltration.
"The combat suits are connected with the entire group." Matt interjected.
Mia took a deep breath before responding: "Thank you, Matt. Okay, everyone listen up!" she said in a voice that resonated in every headset. "I believe no one has forgotten the strategy. This mission is our only chance. If it succeeds, this war will end, and we can finally bring to justice those who have made us suffer so much."
A heavy silence settled in, laden with determination and contained anger. Mia let a few seconds pass before concluding, "For all our comrades fallen in battle, and for renewal. To all units... GO!"
With a swift motion, the helicopters released the teams who plunged into the darkness, ready to accomplish their mission. The teams all jumped from the helicopters, motivated and aware of the importance of this ultimate mission.
"Mia, it's our turn." said Matt, his voice calm but full of gravity.
Mia took a deep breath before replying: "Matt, I need to tell you something. You and I survived together for two years, and you followed me even afterward into the army. I've never been very sociable or friendly with you, or with anyone else, for that matter," she declared, her eyes avoiding his gaze for a moment. "I've made decisions that cost the lives of some of our comrades, and some have resented me for that, some have even hated me."
Matt looked at her, a sad smile on his lips. "Mia, those decisions you made saved the majority of us. We were just kids. It's true that some hated you, but they know very well that without you, they would be dead. None of them would have had the courage to make the choices you made. You were the one who guided us, the one who bore the burden of those decisions."
He paused, then added softly : "I've stayed in touch with many of our former comrades. And you know what? They regret hating you. They know that you saved their lives. And even today, through your actions, you're going to save billions of people, even if those actions are driven by your quest for vengeance."
He then took her hand, looking into her eyes:
"The choices your vengeance imposed on you have changed you, Mia, but I'm ready to accept you as you are, to accept what you'll do next. We've never told you, but we've always admired you. And I... I, Mia, want you to know that I love you. I know you've never had time for that, and even less now, with all we have to accomplish. But I want you to know that you pulled each of us out of that Oblivion, and for that, we owe you everything." The other members nodded in agreement.
Mia remained silent for a moment, the emotion weighing heavily in the air. Then, pulling herself together, she nodded and, with icy determination, launched in a strong voice : "I see. When all this is over, I'd like us to make time for each other. Omega Squad, jump!"
***
During the jump, my thoughts clashed. My goal of vengeance has saved many people. Honestly, I've never cared about others, except myself as long as I could survive. The worst, I think, is that I've never had any remorse about using others, as long as I could achieve my goals. It's true, the choices I've made weigh on me. And with what I'm about to do, I'll soon put an end to all this while adding to my burden. I've never cared about being a heroine or saving people.
Matt, you lost your sister because of me. That you tell me you love me and that you accept my choices, what I've become it shakes me. I would have thought you'd want revenge or that you'd hate me. But you're the complete opposite of me. You saw, you all saw in my actions a saving hand. A hand that allowed saving people while I saw in you the means to accomplish my vengeance. You continue to see me as a liberator. In the beginning, there was only silence, nothing worse than silence and Oblivion.
Our stories, our experiences, our feelings for some have fallen into that Oblivion. We are all just one story among so many others. We live every day as if each day were the last, but no matter; we follow our own path.
We landed softly, exactly as planned. Without losing a moment, we slipped into the dense forest that encircled the castle. The darkness was our ally, enveloping us like a protective cloak as we advanced silently among the trees. Each step was measured, avoiding the cracking branches and dead leaves that could betray our presence. After a methodical progression, we reached the edge of the clearing, where the imposing castle stood before us. It loomed in the gloom, sinister, its Gothic towers pointing toward a sky studded with stars and a full moon. My team and I, in position, patiently awaited the signal, our hearts beating in unison with excitement mixed with tension.
"Ten minutes. The attack on Romania begins in ten minutes, the offensive on Poland in nine." murmured Matt in my earpiece.
I felt my pulse quicken. "Everything will be decided tonight." I thought, adjusting my equipment.
"Snipers, are the guards in your sights?" I asked in a calm voice.
"Affirmative, Commander. All targets are ready to be neutralized. We are awaiting your orders." replied a clear voice in my earpiece.
"Very well, snipers, you will eliminate the guards on the balcony. That's where we'll climb up with our grappling hooks. Alpha Team, prepare to cut the power at my signal. Bravo Team, you'll enter through the main hall to block access to the bunker. Delta Team, are the charges in place on the retreat route?"
"Affirmative!" confirmed Delta Team.
"Perfect, no one will get out of here alive." I concluded, my tone icy.
There was one minute left before the assault. The heavy silence was interrupted only by the rustling of the wind in the trees. I breathed slowly, trying to control the flow of thoughts invading my mind. Before this war, the world we lived in was protected by a fragile bubble of peace, I recalled. But the greed of men ended up breaking it, as it always does. It's the story of humanity, an incessant repetition of the same mistakes. My fists clenched instinctively. Cristian, I'm going to help you make sure that men no longer repeat these mistakes. That's what I'll do after all this.
The countdown finally reached zero.
"It's time. Take them down!" I ordered with determination.
The sniper rifle shots shattered the nocturnal silence, flashes of light punctuating the darkness. One by one, the guards on the balcony collapsed, struck with surgical precision. Their bodies toppled, disappearing into the shadows below.
"Targets eliminated!" confirmed a voice in my earpiece.
Without losing a second, we fired our grappling hooks toward the balcony, the hooks gripping firmly onto the stone balustrade.
"Forward!" I commanded.
We quickly scaled the facade of the castle with agility.
"Assault team, prepare to intervene as soon as we're inside. Technicians, cut the power... now." I ordered.
In the blink of an eye, the castle was plunged into complete darkness. The lights flickered and then went out, leaving the occupants in total confusion. Our night vision goggles activated automatically, bathing the world in a familiar greenish glow. We slipped inside through the balcony, advancing quickly but cautiously. The enemy soldiers, disoriented by the sudden darkness, were neutralized one by one, their bodies falling heavily to the ground like defenseless prey. The shots were precise, swift, efficient. Each targeted room was taken without resistance, our men mastering the situation perfectly.
At the turn of a corridor, we came upon a child, huddled in a corner of his room, eyes wide with fear. A little further on, a young man of about eighteen stood, looking defiant but visibly terrified. The mother, hearing the chaos, burst into the corridor, her face pale and marked by panic. She tried to flee, running toward the staircase.
I raised my hand to signal to Matt : "Matt, neutralize her. Aim for the knees!"
Without hesitation, he shouldered his weapon and fired. The bullets flew, hitting the target with precision. The woman collapsed to the ground, a cry of pain tearing from her lips. Blood spread on the immaculate marble. Meanwhile, the other children had already been intercepted by Bravo Team as they tried to reach the castle's secret bunker.
"Report!" I barked into the communicator, my tone leaving no room for hesitation.
A voice responded quickly : "The other two children have been captured, but the main objective is nowhere to be found. We've searched the upper floors and the basement without success."
I quickly consulted my portable device where a message was flashing. A cold smile formed on my lips.
"No worries." I replied with icy assurance. "Team Three just sent me a message. The objective is escaping via the main road."
I activated the communication channel with Team Three, "Team Three, target moving on your position. Catch that son of a dog and bring him to me alive. I want to speak to him personally."
A few minutes later, all enemy soldiers had been neutralized. Power was restored, bathing the castle in a pale light that accentuated the sinister scene. The edifice, once majestic, was now a silent cemetery. I walked slowly among the inert bodies, my steps echoing on the parquet of the great hall. The members of the Von Kaiser family had been gathered there, kept under close watch by my men. However, one last child was still missing, so I went in search of her.
After searching several rooms, I arrived in front of a half-open door. A barely audible murmur escaped from it. I entered silently into the luxurious bathroom, my eyes scanning every corner. That's when I saw her: a young girl with hair as white as the moon, huddled in a corner. Her red eyes, wide with terror, shone in the faint glow of the wall sconces. She seemed so frail, so vulnerable.
I stared at her without emotion before shouting at her, "Get out of there, now." I ordered in an icy voice that left no room for discussion.
She shook her head frantically, tears rolling down her cheeks. "No, leave me alone!" she screamed, her voice broken by fear and despair.
Seeing that she refused to obey, I lost patience. I rushed toward her, grabbing her hair firmly to pull her out of her hiding place. She screamed, struggling desperately, her nails scratching my hands, but in vain. Her piercing screams echoed throughout the castle, mingling with the distant echo of an explosion outside. A cold smile stretched across my lips.
"It's over." I murmured.
Descending the stairs to the great hall, I dragged the young girl behind me. There, I saw Grégor, on his knees, hands tied behind his back, blood dripping from his forehead. Without ceremony, I pushed her toward the center of the room. She stumbled and fell onto a glass table that shattered under the impact, shards flying in all directions. A few strands of her hair had remained caught in my hand.
Shrill cries then resounded in the room. The mother, brother, and sister of the young girl struggled against their guards, shouting her name in a final desperate call, "Sofia!"
"Why are you doing this? She's just a child!" cried the mother, her voice broken by despair, while her eyes searched for a hint of pity in my gaze.
I turned slowly toward her, a glacial gleam in my eyes. Without saying a word, I advanced toward her, delivering a violent slap. The sharp crack echoed in the vast room, leaving a heavy silence behind it. All eyes were fixed on us, the palpable tension suffocating the atmosphere.
"Do you really think I care about you?" I spat with disdain, my piercing gaze stabbing the terrified woman. "You're all going to die after your trial, and I can't wait for it to end quickly!"
A twisted smile, mixing unhealthy joy and deep hatred, stretched across my lips. Without another glance at the wounded mother, I turned away and approached Grégor. He was still on his knees, hands bound, but his gaze remained proud, even defiant. I crouched down in front of him, our faces now at the same height, and locked my eyes onto his.
"After your trial, I'm going to torture you and your entire family slowly. And the pleasure I'll take from it will be indescribable." I murmured softly.
Grégor held my gaze, a slight ironic smile forming on his face despite the situation.
"Oh, am I dealing with a monster?" he retorted with barely concealed sarcasm.
Without flinching, I slowly drew his handgun, letting the cold barrel brush against Grégor's knee.
"A monster, you say?" I whispered before pulling the trigger.
The detonation was deafening, shattering the oppressive silence. A piercing scream escaped from Grégor as he collapsed to the ground, his hand vainly trying to contain the flow of blood gushing from his wound. The horrified faces of his family reflected unspeakable terror.
I straightened up slightly, then brutally grabbed Grégor's head, forcing him to look me in the eye.
"You can act tough if you like, but what if I killed one of your children right in front of you? Even the worst monsters have something they care about." I said with contempt.
Grégor's mask of defiance cracked, revealing budding panic. "You wouldn't dare!" he shouted, his voice trembling, oscillating between anger and pleading.
A cold smile stretched my lips. Without a word, I nodded to one of my men, who brought his son before him.
"Tell him it's going to be okay, Grégor."
Petrified, Grégor could only stammer.
"Tell him, Grégor! Look him in the eyes and tell him everything is going to be okay."
"Dad..." his son sobbed.
"Everything is going to be okay, everything is going to be okay, don't be afraid." he said, his voice trembling and his face tense.
A second later, a gunshot rang out. The eldest of the Von Kaiser children collapsed, a bullet lodged squarely in his forehead. A deathly silence fell, followed by the family's heart-wrenching screams. The mother threw herself onto her son's lifeless body, her sobs echoing in the room, while insults and pleas erupted from all sides.
"I wouldn't dare? Know that, just like you, I am the worst of monsters. Morality, pity... I no longer care about them. Only vengeance and hatred matter now." I repeated, my voice tinged with dark satisfaction.
Grégor, his face ravaged by pain and sorrow, shook his head while murmuring incoherent words. Then, gathering his strength, he shouted. "Damn it, damn it, damn it! If I started this war, it was for the good of all! Do you think I sleep well at night? Do you think I did this for pleasure? It was a necessity!"
Suddenly, I grabbed his head forcefully and smashed it against the marble floor, a sinister crack sounding as his nose broke. Blood spurted, spreading into a dark pool around his face.
"A necessity! You took from me what I held most dear. Let me give you a piece of advice: be careful of the monster you create."
I took a few steps back, my gaze still fixed on Grégor, who was moaning in pain. The members of the Von Kaiser family were prostrate, devastated by terror and grief.
"Now, think carefully about what I'm going to do to you and your family. Turn it over in every possible and imaginable way. But know one thing: you're going to sink into Oblivion, just as you plunged us into it."
***
Hell mirrors man: nothing satisfies his cruelty.
The last offensives ended, and with them, the war that had ravaged billions of lives, on April 12, 2236. All accomplices, soldiers, and collaborators near or far were tried in what was called the Catharsis. This trial, broadcast worldwide, served as an outlet for humanity in search of culprits. The trial of the Von Kaiser family, in particular, drew all the attention. It offered the public a face onto which to project the hatred accumulated over the years. The verdict was unsurprising: death sentence, as with all the other accomplices. But one fact marked the history of this trial: Grégor Von Kaiser refused any lawyer and chose to defend himself.
When the judge asked him a crucial question, Grégor, instead of submitting in silence, delivered a speech that made the room tremble.
"Mr. Grégor, according to the reports of the team that captured you, you declared, and I quote: 'This war was a necessary act for the good of all.' Can you explain this statement?"
Grégor straightened up, his icy gaze sweeping the room before he spoke: "I'm not going to apologize for precipitating the inevitable; of course, this war was necessary. Do you think humanity could have survived much longer as it was? We lacked resources food and energy were depleting at an alarming rate. We had reached a critical level of pollution, and Mother Nature was forcing us to pay the price. Sooner or later, we would have become extinct. But in this chaos, there was a glimmer of hope, even if it meant making a decision heavy with consequences, a decision some call monstrous."
A murmur swept through the room, but Grégor continued unfalteringly.
"I made this choice! If the population decreased, our resource problems would have been resolved, even if only temporarily. It would have given us the necessary time to rebuild and find a sustainable solution for humanity's future. Rather than fighting among ourselves, rather than sinking into decadence, we could have united, created a common future."
The judge, impassive, replied : "You're talking about genocide."
Grégor smiled slightly, a cold, calculating smile. "Are you familiar with Law 40 from the 'Book of Power'?" he asked.
The judge frowned, uncertain of Grégor's direction.
"Explain yourself."
Grégor looked up at the ceiling, as if reciting a long-memorized lesson: "What is free is suspect; it either hides a trap or an obligation. What has value deserves to be paid for. The survival of humanity, gentlemen, has a price. And that price has been paid in lives."
Cries of indignation resounded in the room, but Grégor ignored them, continuing his relentless speech: "At the cost of billions of lives, I have ensured a future for those who remain. Yes, it's an immense sacrifice. But I tell you, everyone claims they're ready to make difficult choices, but few truly are. We live in collective hypocrisy. Someone had to make a decision heavy with consequences. That choice, I made it. The human race has a future because of me."
The judge replied angrily, "You are a mass murderer!"
Grégor shrugged, as if it didn't matter.
"You can call me crazy, a monster, an assassin. It changes nothing. The truth is here; it confronts you, whether you like it or not. Thanks to me, our children—your children—will have a brighter future than the one we knew. A prosperous future!"
He turned to the crowd, his eyes shining with cold conviction.
"I saved you. I saved all of us. You can hate me, judge me, but deep down, you know I'm right. The truth always catches up with us."
He paused before concluding : "I have no regrets... except that my family won't see the future I've created for them."
The silence that followed was heavy, laden with tension and uncertainty. This speech entered history not because it found supporters but because it forced everyone to reflect. Who would side with a mass murderer? No one, for fear of being associated with him. But his speech resonated in a disturbingly profound way.
The final verdict, unsurprisingly, was delivered: the death penalty. But few knew the true fate reserved for the Von Kaiser family.
One week later.
"Ah, what a shame, Mr. Grégor. Your wife couldn't withstand the electric shock this time. My associates may have gone a bit too far." said Mia in a cold, almost disinterested tone.
Grégor, broken physically and mentally by days of torture, raised his tired eyes toward her.
"What are you waiting for to kill me? You've destroyed me mentally... Physically, I'm nothing but a wreck. You've tortured and killed my four children, and now my wife..."
A cruel sneer stretched Mia's lips. "I want you to say it again. Say it! Say it!"
Grégor burst into tears. He no longer had arms or legs. His body was nothing but a mass of wounds and suffering. His voice, broken and trembling, begged for a release he knew was out of reach.
"I... I killed your family, your brother. I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" he stammered, his voice fading.
His only aspiration, his sole wish, was now death.
"Finish me off, I beg you..." he implored, his voice dying.
Mia stared at him for a moment, her face impassive.
"Very well," she murmured. "But you're going to die slowly."
She raised her weapon, looked at it briefly, then, without a word, shot Grégor in the stomach.
He let out a cry of pain, a piercing scream, but his eyes were strangely empty, as if he had already given up. Mia watched him impassively, her icy voice breaking the silence.
"It's over. You're going to die from internal bleeding... like my brother. It's the last price you'll pay for your actions."
"Says the one who tortured innocent children..." Grégor whispered.
Despite the excruciating pain and approaching death, Grégor found a final moment of lucidity.
"I saved humanity... at the cost of terrible sacrifices. I am a murderer, yes... but also a savior. I've created monsters like you in my wake... but be careful not to create another. The cycle of hatred won't end with me, young lady. Sadness isn't the absence of vengeance. True sadness is being imprisoned in your desire for vengeance to the point of forgetting who you are. Your brother would turn in his gra—"
A gunshot echoed in the room, and Grégor collapsed lifeless.
She looked at his inert body, indifferent to his warning.
"You have your opinion, and I have mine. Maybe you saved millions, billions of people... But my personal tragedy takes precedence over all others," she murmured.
She averted her eyes, fixing them on an invisible point in the room.
"Don't look at me like that, big brother. I see your eyes filled with disgust. You say nothing, but I know it. You're going to haunt me for the rest of my days, aren't you?" she said softly.
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by her own breathing.
"But I'm strong. Stronger than anything. I'll endure this, even if it completely breaks me to see you look at me that way." she murmured, her eyes hardening.
She closed her eyes for a moment, her jaw clenched.
"I still have things to do before I join you. Until then, keep haunting me."
Six years later.
Six years had passed since the end of the war. The scars left by the conflicts were still visible, but the Council, under Cristian's leadership, had quickly implemented a reconstruction plan. As soon as the fighting ended, he set to work with determination. I, having become a war heroine in everyone's eyes, had not only gained a place on the Council but had also become its symbol. The nations were rebuilding one by one, but we had to think about the future. With the Council's support, I was in charge of diplomatic relations, and my task was to unite all countries under a single banner.
It was no easy task. This ambitious project, named Gaia, symbolized unification and renewal. There was no longer France, the United States, or Russia only Gaia. Its emblem, an Earth illuminated by a rising sun, represented this new beginning for humanity, turned toward the vastness of space to seek the resources it needed.
The Council, which was originally supposed to dissolve, became a permanent organization but with new rules. Now, instead of one president per country, a single president would speak on behalf of Gaia, elected by all populations. And unsurprisingly, it was Cristian who was elected as Gaia's first president.
As for languages, English was chosen as the common language, although this sparked debates. Despite objections about preserving diversity, a language that everyone could speak was necessary. In six years, efforts to teach English had borne fruit.
As for me, my life continued. I was under treatment, dependent on many medications. I had a daughter with Matt, who turned out to be a loving father and devoted husband. Being a parent for the first time was a new but sweet feeling, warming even my heart hardened by trials. Despite this, crises and nightmares persisted, causing me to see my brother, Ray, every night. I also felt that he watched over my daughter, like a silent presence.
I began writing a detailed journal about my life, intended for my family. Thanks to Matt, I had reconnected with those with whom I had survived for two years. The reconciliations were full of apologies and tears, but they were necessary. Every moment of those two years is recorded in my journal, a legacy I want to leave behind.
The years continued to pass. I watched my daughter grow, and as a member of the Council, I witnessed the incredible progress of humanity. Space research accelerated, and a new energy source, Arke energy, invented by Giuseppe Genio, triggered a technological revolution. This progress finally allowed humanity, once divided and weak, to unite around a common goal: exploring the vastness of space and ensuring a prosperous future.
2275.
Today, I am 59 years old. I retired from the Council, believing that everything was now moving in the right direction. Cristian, for his part, is now 79. He relinquished his position as president with joy but remains a respected advisor, having helped build a better world.
We met again by a lake, a peaceful place commemorating the end of the war. A vast fresco bearing Gaia's emblem adorned the area.
"Well, Mia, we've come a long way, haven't we?" said Cristian with a nostalgic smile.
I looked at him mischievously. "You've aged well, Cristian." I replied, laughing softly.
"Ah, I could say the same about you." he joked. "But seriously, we both worked for a better future. And today, I'm happy you walked by my side. When I told you to think about the future, I didn't think you'd get so involved."
I fixed him, shaking my head slightly. "Stop lying. You knew exactly what you were doing with your words. You're a manipulator, Cristian."
"Oh, you're still as tough as ever, even after all these years." he replied, feigning offense.
I smiled, softening my tone. "Your words had an impact on me, I must admit. And you should thank Matt too. Without him, I would never have stayed by your side."
Cristian nodded gently. "I've already thanked him, you know. For the new start he offered you."
I looked away for a moment, thinking about all we had been through.
"Cristian, despite everything I've done, you've always acted like a father to me. Even when I was... lost."
Cristian remained silent for a moment, then murmured, "Grégor... He was right, in a way. Thanks to him, we were able to make a fresh start. What he said came true. But Mia, do you regret what you've done?"
I shook my head slowly. "I regret torturing his children. I took pleasure in it, and now that I have my daughter and grandson, I realize how unbearable it must have been for him."
He placed his hand on my shoulder, looking into my eyes.
"And if you had to do it again?"
I remained silent for a moment before answering softly : "Even if I regret it, I would make the same choices again. Because it would mean that my brother and my family didn't die in vain. And no one can accept such a sacrifice."
He nodded slowly, understanding, and continued : "Yet, thanks to Grégor and his actions, our future generations your daughter, your grandson will have a future."
"Yes! But that's the worst truth to admit. The truth... it always catches up with us! I tortured his children, and now they, too, are here, asking me why!"
Cristian turned to me, his eyes full of sadness.
"You said that no one is ready to sacrifice what they hold dear. You know, we all hold on to life for what it can potentially offer us. Your father, your mother, and your brother sacrificed their lives for you. Mia, you're going to have to bear a little longer the atrocities and regrets you carry within you. This won't please you, but enjoy what we've built, even if it rests on the death of your family. But above all, enjoy the life your brother gave you."
I didn't respond. Instead, I let myself fall into his arms, and for the first time in years, I let down the barriers I had raised. I became once again that child who had cried over the death of her brother and family.
Sometimes we're faced with an obvious truth, a truth we already know. Sometimes we're there at the wrong time; sometimes the nightmare started long before we arrived. And sometimes, it's the monsters who win!
2290
Years had passed, and Cristian had died of old age, honored for all he had accomplished. Karla, my daughter, had grown up and had a son. Her son Aiden had become a lively young boy. He looked so much like my brother Ray that it was unsettling. Karla often told me that he had an obsession with always wanting to be the best at everything he undertook.
I had even used my connections to have him train with experienced soldiers, at Karla's request. I attended his training sessions, and he was impressive for his young age.
One Friday, Matt and I went to pick up Aiden from his training with our butler, Alfred.
"So, how was your training, Mr. Aiden?" Alfred asked with a warm smile.
"Ah, wonderful!" Aiden replied enthusiastically. "Grandma, I almost beat Hart today!"
I laughed softly. "Oh, but you know, he's holding back because you're still young."
Aiden frowned. "I hope to grow up fast then!"
Matt smiled and shook his head. "Don't be in such a hurry."
"Huh? Why, Grandpa?"
"Learn to enjoy your youth, my boy. You spend all your time training."
"But I'm having fun! It's fun to fight and learn." Aiden retorted, still passionate.
Matt sighed with a smile. "I'll never understand our grandson."
"He's our grandson, what do you want?" I said, shrugging my shoulders.
We got into the car, with Alfred at the wheel. That night, we were watching Aiden overnight because Karla was working late for the Council. On the way back, black crows perched on the power lines a bad omen, I thought.
That night, we dined peacefully, enjoying the warmth of our home. But in the middle of the night, a smell of burning woke me up. The fire was already crackling all around, and thick smoke was filling the room. Our house was on fire.
I sprang up hastily, but Matt wasn't by my side. Panicked, I quickly grabbed the journal I had carefully stored in my dresser and ran to Aiden's room. But he was no longer there. My heart was pounding as I descended the stairs, my throat tight with anxiety. What I saw in the living room froze me with horror: Matt, suspended by the neck, held by black bands manipulated by a humanoid figure whose sinister presence seemed to engulf the room. Aiden, huddled and in tears, watched the scene helplessly.
I rushed toward him, shouting, "Aiden, you have to flee!"
"No, Grandma, I won't leave you!" he sobbed, refusing to move.
I crouched down to his level, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Aiden, you are so strong, so brave for your age. But you have to go. If you die here, I will never be able to join your grandfather and my brother in peace, do you understand?"
His tear-filled eyes stared at me, and he slowly nodded. "Yes, Grandma..."
I then handed him the notebook that recorded my entire life.
"Take it. Don't forget everything I taught you. Become strong, Aiden."
"What are you, Aiden?"
He sniffled, determined despite his tears. "I am stronger..."
"Stronger than what?"
"Stronger than strength itself!"
"Then go ahead, leave!"
I watched my little angel run away, disappearing into the night. Then, Matt's body fell heavily to the ground. He was dead, there was no doubt. The thing, dressed in black with red veins pulsing on its skin, slowly approached me. Its shape becoming more distinct with each step, and finally, I saw a face.
A sad smile appeared on my lips. "So this is what you meant... I'm glad to see you. Ah, you're here too, Ray. I'm ready. I accept my fate. I'm finally going to join you."
Outside, Aiden was crying, clutching his grandmother's notebook to his chest. He looked up and saw the dark silhouette emerging from the flames leaving the scene. At that moment, a crow cawed above him.
Aiden clenched his fists, his eyes filled with determination. "I'm going to find you and make you pay, whoever you are!"
--
We all have a story, and the choices we make define us and the paths we take. Maybe one day we will all fall into Oblivion, yet we all seek salvation. But one thing must not be forgotten: if one story ends, another begins.
Mia Shafter